The Rundown: Shopping Across America
Nordstrom celebrates 125 years and what are people buying from Conneticut to Newport Beach?
Which brand do we think is going to sign Erling Braut Haaland next? The Norwegian Footballer who plays for Manchester City when he isn’t in the World Cup. He has an insane handbag collection. According to Social Blade he has gained 11 million Instagram followers in the last 14 days. He has over 54 million followers now on the platform but he is still behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s 671 million, Leo Messi’s 511 million, and Kylian Mbappé’s 132 million. If his offensive skills and focus are anything like they are on the field watch out.
I’m also paying attention to Josimar Dias aka Vozinha, the Cabo Verde goal keeper who is at 27.5 million Instagram followers and gained 6.7 million on Saturday.
If you’ve got 6 minutes, I’m into Nike’s Rip the Script commercial for the soccer skills and players.
In this send: I checked in with a few boutiques, multi-brand retailers and brands with their own stores to find out what is selling across the U.S. and Canada. Litchfield County, St. Louis, Dallas, Vancouver, Nolita, Montecito and more. Plus: Dries Van Noten, Marisa Klass, big stone necklaces, Pinnacle, the Lodge Cardigan, American Flag sweaters, Prounis, bermuda shorts, Labo.Art, balloon pants, fanny bag, alligator boots, Best Apparel, Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, XL Lola Blanket, and what I’ve been reading.
🛍️ Quick note: I write a lot (too much good stuff to share!) If you’re reading via email only, you may need to click through to the web version or read on the Substack app. I promise it will be worth it. 🛍️
Fresh Receipts & Forecasts
Forecasting big beads: The statement necklace means something very different now than it did in the early aughts. Like this flat colorful option from Dries Van Noten. Marisa Klass jewelry, a Toronto based designer, has a new collaboration with Leandra Medine Cohen and fresh receipts at Net that quickly sold out. Klass has been designing jewelry since she was a young girl and uses organic stones and shells in her designs. Worth noting that with the more designer and luxury pricing of the jewelry the sell-outs are likely due to buyers only bringing in one unit each. These big stone necklaces have been a fun statement piece. A few others worth noting from Notte, Lizzie Fortunato, Julietta has beautiful options like this one, and the under $75 options from Evereve.
The Silly-er the better: Silly little bags are not going anywhere. When a bit of joy goes right for the brain it is easy to justify the purchase. For the ultimate in silly, J.W. Anderson’s Pigeon clutch has a new feathered friend. The Canary clutch and a little Hedgehog too.
New Donni in 3..2..1: Summer III from Donni releases at 10am PST Tuesday. Check out their polka dots and summer bandanas. New items include a pinstripe poplin, the summer shift dress in a polka dot taffeta (the solid sold out quickly!) and new styles of the baby rib and silk. I’ve owned these pants and both of these pants for multiple years and still wear regularly. Part of my uniform.
Forecast — It’s summer schmatta season: Jess Graves at The Love List launched a special collab with Gigi Burris. Love their take on second day hair. A need. There is also a no tie version from Lele Sadoughi and of course Pucci.
Freshly squeezed: New Orange Crush from Negative, a favorite for lounge and jammies. I wear Negative for those in-between moments. But you can wear as basics or to sleep in.
Striped Sets sell: This boxy stripe t-shirt and midi skirt launched this week. Another striped set from Renggli — this stripe t-shirt already sold out but the matching mini skirt is still available.
Magazine + Tote: Combining my two favorite things, Magazines and Totes. Parker Thatch launched the new suede and broken-in leather versions of a perfectly slim work bag.
Field Notes
This week I reached out to the inside sources for details on what is actually selling in retail pockets across the U.S. (and hi Toronto and Vancouver!) From the boutiques you love, ones that should be on your radar when you travel, and the direct-to-consumer brands that see different items pop in various cities.
Pinnacle — Litchfield County, CT
Shoppers are looking for the special items and are willing to spend more for pieces they love. The lodge cardigan from The Great, Ulla Johnson’s knit sets. Leading up to 4th of July these sweaters and Polo Ralph Lauren hoodies were selling well to shoppers of all ages.
Hero Shop — Larkspur, CA
I love Emily Holt’s boutique at Marin Country Mart. She mixes up the brands, selects the best pieces for each assortment, and the stylist are super knowledgable. The merchandise is also a great mix for the micro-climates in the Bay Area.
On a recent visit to Hero Shop in Larkspur, Emily Holt’s Dries Van Noten display up front was such a fun mix of pre-fall, short-sleeve knits and silk skirts in fall colors, but light enough to still wear now. Emily told me the weight is exactly right for how her clients actually dress across the Bay Area’s micro-climates. The silks are moving, and this skirt is under $500 for a special ready-to-wear designer item that usually cost twice that amount. Bermuda-length shorts are selling well from denim with Agolde and dressier options from By Malene Birger and Proenza Schouler White Label.
I’ve mentioned before that Hero Shop has the best in-store assortment of Flore Flore I’ve seen. If you’re in the Bay Area, it’s worth the drive just to try the range of styles and colors on in person. Pair it with denim: Khaite’s Finley in ecru and the Clara in dark indigo are both top sellers right now. Labo.Art, designed and made in Milan, has become a sleeper hit too.
The Row bags, from the 90s bag, the Marlo in both the 12 and 14, and the Alma in raffia, sell well in store. Prounis gemstone pendants and bead necklaces are an easy, everyday-luxury pickup. And it’s never too early in Northern California to think about outerwear: early reads on fall jackets already lean toward Khaite’s Cordelia and Nili Lotan’s Ophelia shorter, more fitted silhouettes that are the best fit for the Bay Area client.
Evereve — Multiple Locations
For my full analysis of Evereve and how they approach retail you can check out my reporting here. Evereve adjusts their buy by location to make sure they are bringing in items that local shoppers are looking for. I was curious to hear what was selling with their customers across the U.S. so we can get an understanding of more regional trends.
Minneapolis, MN: Colorful items, especially the accessories, are driving purchases here. This beaded bracelet, a bubble tank top, carpenter pants (hello easy pants!), another “sleek-er” tank from LNA, and a bubble gum style necklace.
Birmingham, AL: Classic, casual pieces and work ready summer dresses. See this longer denim short, a lace camisole, tube tops, midi shirt-dress and the mini version of the same dress.
St. Louis, MO: shoppers wear patterns. Like this short-sleeve top and this scarf style tank. And a styling trick — looks like a sweater but it’s just a “scarf”.
Dallas, TX: is all about the prints! From tops, a rodeo red-y handbag, and a head-to-toe print set (top, skort).
Newport Beach, CA: these balloon pants, which are a more directional easy pant, pointelle t-shirts from Evereve’s private label and this ruched ribbed tank from LNA.
Seattle, WA: back to the simple white tops and classic stripes. Silk-ish available in cream and navy as a shell and a similar tank version. A cotton boho Evereve private label top. Navy and white stripe set — top and shorts.
Clare V — Multiple Locations
Nolita, NYC: pieces that stand-alone and work well for the city. A messenger bag in olive, a fashion forward but classic fanny bag, I love the ‘70s heritage feel of this blue suede bag. This Clare V top with the French-American classic twist.
Chicago, IL: these pieces are more travel ready and show the functional taste of the shopper at this location. An oversized fanny bag, a petit messenger bag, a clutch that travels flat, a not-too-oversized tote, and this backpack that can be carried in multiple ways.
Montecito, CA: at the Montecito Country Mart location, Clare V’s top styles show off the casual-cool California style. A smaller woven leather handbag that you can switch up with straps, a large casual tote, a sweatshirt for cool summer evenings, and sunglasses for Southern CA.
Tecovas — Multiple Locations
Tecovas has stores in 27 states. The brand’s top selling boot in the Tecovas stores are the Annie — consider this your gateway boot. Cowboy hat sales have doubled year-over-year for the past two years. Alligator boots are driving sales in Florida. In New York, 20 percent of all purchases are in this color. Not surprising.
Left on Friday — L.A., Toronto, Vancouver
L.A. and Toronto are seeing more two piece sales while Vancouver has a more even split between one pieces (there are 9 new shades of this best selling one piece) and two pieces. The Layup Short, a cover-up/ready to wear item, is the biggest new style — top shades are Sweet Chili Heat and First Place. The Wear to Bottom is a top 10 item in all three locations.
L.A. — shoppers are going for low-rise and a skimpier bottom.
Toronto and Vancouver — shoppers are pairing the Hi Hi Bottom (a higher rise) and Hi Line Shortie with a lower coverage top.
In My Feed
On the Morgan Stewart McGraw Podcast last week Sara Foster shared that Favorite Daughter is launching handbags this fall.
Love Allison Bornstein’s content and how to make a look your own with pieces you already have. The oversized t-shirts I’ve been wearing this summer for layering indoors: this, this light as air cashmere version, and I always stock up on these with a white and black 2 pack.
It’s short season and I love both Angela Galvez take on longer lengths and no one does a round-up like Joyce Lee does.
This Thursday 200 pieces from Martin Margiela’s personal archive are going up for auction in Paris. Margiela selected the items and documented each item himself. [NY Times gift link]
125 Years In, How Nordstrom Celebrates
Nordstrom Anniversary sale kicks off for card members on Tuesday, July 14th. I'll be honest, I've been a little underwhelmed by the Anniversary Sale the past few years. I want to review the history, what's happened with Nordstrom since they've gone private (with Mexican retail group El Puerto de Liverpool, they took the department store private in May 2025), and the impact of brands having direct-to-consumer channels.
